Planning Your Pregnancy

Pregnancy Planning

Starting a family is a big step in a woman’s life and there are a lot of things to consider once you’ve decided to get pregnant. Like, are there things you can do to increase your odds of getting pregnant? How will pregnancy affect my health? What are the risks involved with pregnancy if I am obese or diabetic? Are there things I can do before I get pregnant to help me have a healthy pregnancy?

When to See a Doctor

The next step is to find an obstetrician. Many women wait until they are pregnant before choosing an obstetrician, but it’s sometimes easier if you choose one when you’re trying to get pregnant. This is especially important if you have any medical conditions, such as diabetes or depression. Even for women in good health, seeing an obstetrician early is helpful because your doctor can prescribe prenatal vitamins, get you current on immunizations, and help you if you’re having trouble getting pregnant.

If you don’t have an obstetrician, you need to find one as soon as the indicator on your home pregnancy test shows a positive sign. Prenatal care beginning at the earliest stages of pregnancy helps ensure the healthiest outcomes for you and your baby.

Expect the first appointment to take a little more time than a regular visit, so that your doctor can:

do a complete physical exam

talk to you about your family medical history

take blood for testing

do a pelvic exam and pap smear

determine your baby’s due date

After the initial exam, you will see the doctor on a regular basis to check on the progress and health of both you and your baby. It’s very important to get these checkups, because according to the Department of Health and Human Services, a baby is five times more likely to die without prenatal care and three times more likely to be born at a low birth weight. Your doctor will talk to you about how often you should be scheduled for a prenatal visit, but they occur approximately:

Once a month until week 28

Every two weeks for weeks 28 – 36

Every week after that until the baby is born

Women who have preexisting health conditions or high-risk pregnancies may need to see their doctor more frequently.

Prenatal Testing

During the pregnancy there will be many tests performed to help determine your risk for infections or complications. These tests include:

Complete blood count (CBC)

RH factor and blood type

Hepatitis screening

HIV

Vaginal culture

Chickenpox and rubella

Anemia

Antibody screening

Thyroid test

Taking Medications During Pregnancy

Many over-the-counter medications and even dietary or herbal supplements can be harmful to your baby when taken during pregnancy. So for some common aches and pains, expectant mothers should be aware before taking any kind of medication. Talk to your doctor about what medications are safe for you to take while pregnant.

Providers

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